Staten Island's Malliotakis on the rise in American conservative movement

Updated 1 mo ago; Posted 5 yrs ago

Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/Brooklyn) will talk about her immigrant parents and her role in the Assembly minority when she speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C.

As a "rising conservative star," Ms. Malliotakis, in her second term in Albany, will speak at the conference's "Top 10 Under 40" program on Saturday.

Ms. Malliotakis said the conference invite was an honor.

"I was sent to Albany to fight reckless government spending, overtaxation, and overregulation and I've been proud to do so because a more efficient, more accountable government is something I truly believe in," she said.

The Conservative Political Action Conference also served as a platform to showcase lesser-known Republicans from across the country.

In an online report, MSNBC touted Ms. Mallitakis as a "young conservative to watch" at the conference, a list that also included Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford, Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon, Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love and Connecticut State Sen. Art Linares.

Part of Ms. Malliotakis' appeal, MSNBC said, is the fact that she is the child of immigrants, and is the Island's first Hispanic-American official.

Ms. Malliotakis said she planned to talk about her parents and the American Dream at the conference, and would touch on some "liberal" legislation pushed by Democrats that she opposes, including the DREAM Act and public funding of campaigns.

She said she would also discuss what it means to be a member of the GOP minority battling an overwhelming Democratic majority in the Assembly.

"It's our job to push back against bad legislation, like the DREAM Act," she said.

"Nicole Malliotakis has certainly earned the label of 'rising star' in the conservative movement," said state Conservative Party chairman Michael Long. "Ms. Malliotakis is a dynamic and energetic presence both in her district and at the Capitol, and she will make an excellent representative for both our party and our state at CPAC."